David Proud Our MD
Although I had been singing since a child – school, chamber choir, choral society – it was only in my mid twenties that I discovered barbershop when working in San Francisco. Back in the UK interest in Cinema Organs and Tudor church music, not to mention work, prevented any involvement with the fledgling British barbershop movement. However a move to a new area and the discovery of a nearby barbershop chorus meant a switch of allegiances.
At White Horse Harmony (named after the stone-age chalk horse, but now thought to have been a dog!) I became a baritone, later switching to bass. By the time I left the chorus several years later I had been through the mill of Section Leader for both baritones and basses, Treasurer, Chairman and Musical Director. It was at White Horse Harmony that my quartet “Chord in the Act” was formed which stayed in existence for nearly ten years until the untimely death of our Lead. By this time I was into my second period directing a chorus this time with Guildford mens “Surrey Fringe”. (The name came from ‘Oklahoma’ not from the hairstyles of the Lead section).
The death in the quartet led to me taking a break from singing but thanks to the intervention of the MD of The Great Western Chorus I found myself back on the risers again six years ago. A four year period as GWC Chairman has just come to an end during which time the chorus was lucky enough to win three medals – a bronze and two golds. I am also GWC Baritone section leader.
Apart from barbershop I have an interest in Cathedrals and cathedral music. I am married to Rosemary, an avid bee-keeper, and have two married daughters one of whom runs a music management business and the other who is an airline pilot.
It is a great honour to be asked to join Avon Harmony. It will be a challenge for me to be directing again after a break of nine years and also being in front of a ladies chorus for the first time. I shall do my best to quickly get up to speed so that as a team we can have a lot of fun and some really good singing together.
David Proud